Reading Theme:
Initiate Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (3 meaning)
Meaning 1：start officially (initiate)
initiate
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/
vt.
to officially start a process, plan, or action.
start officially
➕
/stɑːrt əˈfɪʃəli/
vt.
To cause a process, plan, or action to begin, often with a formal decision or ceremony.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'initiare' (to begin), from 'initium' (beginning), from 'in-' (into) + 'ire' (to go).
💡 Mnemonic
Think of 'initial' + 'ate' = to put into the initial state. Imagine pressing an 'INITIATE' button at the start of a race.
📖 Example
The new project manager decided to initiate a weekly team meeting to improve communication.
The new project manager decided to start a weekly team meeting to improve communication.
🔗 Collocations
initiate a project – to officially start a new project
initiate discussions – to begin formal talks or negotiations
initiate legal proceedings – to start a lawsuit or legal action
🔄 Synonyms
commence (v.) – to begin or start something
launch (v.) – to start a large-scale effort or product
inaugurate (v.) – to formally begin a system, policy, or period
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
initiation (n.) – the process of starting or being introduced to something
initiator (n.) – a person or thing that starts something
initiatory (adj.) – relating to the beginning or introduction of something
📖 Cultural Story
In ancient Rome, 'initiare' described the formal beginning of religious rites. Today it's widely used in business, technology, and social contexts to denote the start of an official process or membership.
Meaning 2：induct into group (initiate)
initiate
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/
vt.
to formally introduce someone into a group or a new area of knowledge, often with a ceremony.
induct into group
➕
/ɪnˈdʌkt ɪntuː ɡruːp/
vt.
To formally introduce someone into a group, organization, or new field of knowledge, often through a special ceremony or ritual.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The senior members of the book club will initiate the newcomers by recommending their favorite classic novels.
The senior members of the book club will induct the newcomers by recommending their favorite classic novels.
🔗 Collocations
initiate a member – to formally admit someone into a group
initiate a novice – to introduce a beginner to a craft or knowledge
initiation ceremony – a formal event marking the start of membership
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
initiation (n.) – the ceremony or process of admitting a new member
initiate (n.) – a person who has been newly introduced to a group
initiatory (adj.) – serving as a first step or introduction
Meaning 3：activate system (initiate)
initiate
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/
vt.
to make a machine, system, or process start working.
activate system
➕
/ˈæktɪveɪt ˈsɪstəm/
vt.
To cause a machine, device, computer program, or process to begin operating or executing a command.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
To begin the software installation, you need to initiate the setup wizard by double-clicking the installer file.
To begin the software installation, you need to start the setup wizard by double-clicking the installer file.
🔗 Collocations
initiate a program – to start a software application
initiate a reboot – to start the restart process of a system
initiate a backup – to start the data backup process
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
initiator (n.) – a device or component that starts a process
reinitiate (v.) – to start again after a pause or failure
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